April 21, 2019

April 21, 2019, 2:55:54 AM EDT

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A string of violent storms that spawned possible tornadoes on Friday capped off a wild week of severe weather across the southern and eastern U.S.

Mississippi Gov. Phil Bryant declared a state of emergency on Friday in response to the tornadoes that left behind a trail of destruction on Thursday. This is the second time in less than a week that a state of emergency has been declared in Mississippi due to tornadoes.

As of Friday afternoon, at least five fatalities had been reported due to the storms. The latest fatality is from a traffic incident involving hydroplaning in Fort Gordon, Georgia, on Friday evening.

Earlier Friday morning, the storm caused the death of an 8-year-old girl in Leon County, Florida. The Leon County Sheriff’s Office report that a tree fell into a house in Woodville, located south of Tallahassee, killing the girl and injuring a 12-year-old boy.

Three deaths occurred on Thursday - one in Alabama and two in Mississippi.

A 42-year-old woman was killed Thursday night in St. Clair County, Alabama. Monica Clements died when a tree fell on her home, St. Clair County Sheriff’s Office told local news station WRBC. According to officials, Clements’ 10-year-old son was also home at the time of the incident. He sustained minor injuries.

In Mississippi, Amite County Coroner Campbell Sharp told local news station WLBT that 24-year-old Kenderick Magee was killed while driving in the severe weather. Magee's car crashed on Bean Road in the Gillsburg Community. He died as a result of his injuries.

A tree fell onto a vehicle Thursday afternoon in Neshoba County, Mississippi, leaving one person dead, according to the Neshoba Democrat.

There have been widespread power outages as the storms blasted eastward. Over 200,000 electric customers were without power on Friday evening from Mississippi to Florida and northward through Virginia, according to PowerOutage.us. North Carolina topped the list with over 70,000 outages. These numbers started to decline on Friday night.

Travel delays mounted as fallen trees and flooding made some roads impassable. Atlanta's Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport had over 1,000 delays on Friday, and airline delays and cancellations will continue to have ripple effects for travelers across the nation.

Flash flood, severe thunderstorm and tornado warnings clashed in regions of Mississippi and Louisiana Thursday afternoon as a line of vigorous thunderstorms swept through the region. One tornado just missed striking Jackson, Mississippi, but instead passed through the nearby town of Clinton. Cars lay strewn across a Walmart parking lot, knocked over onto their sides while rain continued to fall.

In Utica, Mississippi, authorities reported a Hinds County school bus trapped by two trees on the road. Officials confirm that the driver and children are okay. According to officials, homes have been destroyed in Morton, Mississippi, after severe storms and a potential tornado moved through the area.

Storms ravaged Mississippi, Alabama and the Florida Panhandle before moving into western Georgia on Thursday night. Having seen the destruction that played out in the Mississippi Valley over the past few days, many school districts in central Georgia canceled class for Friday as part of storm preparation tactics.

The multi-day outbreak began on Wednesday afternoon when powerful thunderstorms developed from the Texas Panhandle to central Iowa. One tornado was confirmed near Higgins, Texas, Wednesday evening. Two EF0 tornadoes also struck Missouri, one near Greenfield and another near Meinert.

A rare phenomenon occurred on Wednesday as twin tornadoes – two tornadoes appearing near each other at the same time – touched down 4 miles west-northwest of Shattuck, Oklahoma.

Among Friday's tornadoes, the one that significantly damaged structures in Franklin County, Virginia, was classified as an EF-3.

Severe thunderstorms have advanced northward with storm damage being reported near Lewistown, Pennsylvania. Strong thunderstorms are also approaching Washington, D.C., from the southwest and should arrive within the hour.

In addition to the severe thunderstorms, heavy, persistent downpours lead to flash flooding in western North Carolina, western South Carolina and northern Georgia. Over a dozen water gauges are in at least minor flood stage across the area, according to the National Weather Service. Some towns, such as Brevard, North Carolina, received more than double their typical April rainfall in less than 36 hours.

6:20 p.m. EDT Friday:

The number of power outages have surged across the southeastern U.S. this evening with more than 215,000 electric customers without power. These numbers may continue to climb into Friday night, particularly across Virginia and North Carolina.

5:45 p.m. EDT Friday:

Emergencymanagers reported a roof torn off a shed in Bladen County, North Carolina, at 4:36 p.m. EDT. The NWS reported a possible tornado in the area.

Thousands of flights have been delayed or canceled within, into, or out of the United States today. There have been 3,929 delays and 1,082 cancellations, according to flightaware.com.

Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport in Atlanta, Georgia, and the Charlotte Douglas International Airport in Charlotte, North Carolina, are experiencing the most disruptions. Both Georgia and North Carolina continue to experience severe weather warnings due to the storm threats.

Airports in Florida, Washington, D.C, Philadelphia and New York City are also experiencing delays as the storms move up the eastern U.S.

12:45 p.m. CDT Friday:

Power outages continue to spread and worsen in the southern U.S, especially in Georgia, Florida and North Carolina. Over 200,000 customers are without power in the South.

Over 90,000 customers are without power in Florida. More than 35,000 customers are without power in Georgia.

North Carolina is also experiencing an increase in power outages as the storm covers the state as nearly 23,000 customers are without power.

Due to severe weather and high winds the Skyway Bridge in Tampa, Florida, is closed to all traffic, according to Florida Highway Patrol.

Red flags are flying at coastal Alabama and northwestern Florida beaches due to dangerous conditions.

Single red flags 🚩 are flying in Orange Beach today - Friday, April 19th. One red flag means that the surf is high or there are dangerous rip currents, or both. Here is the early morning view of surfers at the Four Seasons pier and Cotton Bayou Beach. @spann#alwxpic.twitter.com/Sg7TtyphhO

Conyers, Georgia, is experiencing extreme flooding as the storm moves through the region. Videos on social media show the city's parks, roadways and rivers overflowed with water. Several roads remain closed and impassable.

The city is located just east of Atlanta, which is also experiencing severe weather threats due to the storm.

Be safe on city streets! Our Public Works & Transportation Foreman Allen Strickland captured this image behind Light of Calvary Baptist Church on East View Road. Several roads have been closed due to unsafe conditions. Exercise extreme caution in flooded roadways. #floodingpic.twitter.com/wUrJqslFfk

Power outages spread from Texas to Mississippi and Alabama into Georgia and Florida as the storm moves through on Friday.

There is an electrical outage affecting approximately 1,878 customers around Tallahassee, Florida. The City of Tallahassee reports that crews are responding to the outage.

Nearly 20,000 customers are without power throughout Florida, and more than 20,000 customers are without power in Georgia.

Widespread outages continue in Mississippi, Alabama and Texas following the storm, according to PowerOutage.us.

The morning is off to a stormy start across parts of Alabama, Georgia and the Florida Panhandle, as seen here by #GOESEast. Here, bright orange areas signify colder, taller clouds, which indicate greater convective activity and heavier rainfall. More: https://t.co/YOCIcbBVYfpic.twitter.com/GauCE6FXgz

The storm has arrived, bringing strong winds, rain and more. Stay safe, #Tallahassee, especially on the road as this system moves through town. If you can stay inside until it has passed, please do. pic.twitter.com/ISoxE5LI7a

The Florida Panhandle is bearing the brunt of the strongest storms this morning, where some coastal flooding and severe storms are occurring.

Heavy rain is inundating portions of Alabama and Georgia farther north. In Atlanta, early morning storms have dropped over half of an inch of rain already. These rainfall rates can quickly lead to ponding on roadways, which would interfere with the morning commute.

1:10 a.m. CDT Friday:

A new tornado watch has been issued across a swath of southern Alabama, the Florida Panhandle and western Georgia through 8:00 a.m. CDT.

The death toll for this storm system has risen to three, with news of a deadly car crash in Mississippi that occurred during the stormy weather on Thursday evening.

Due to the threat for severe weather on Friday, many schools have canceled classes for the day across central Georgia.

10:10 p.m. CDT Thursday:

A second death has been attributed to these storms, this one in St. Clair County, Alabama, where a tree fell on a home.

Emergency managers continue to report widespread instances of downed trees in the wake of storms are they sweep through Alabama, leaving over 48,000 customers without power so far.

7:50 p.m. CDT Thursday:

The first fatality of this multi-day severe weather outbreak has been reported in Neshoba County, Mississippi, after a tree fell onto a vehicle, killing a person inside, according to the Neshoba Democrat.

Downed trees will disrupt travel across the region into Friday as crews frantically work to clear roads and highways of debris.

After a brush fire led to the closure of Interstate 95 north of Jacksonville, Florida, residents will have to remain vigilant that more fires can ignite as sweltering summer heat grips the Southeast through and beyond the extended holiday weekend.